The Urban Renewal Authority will reserve rental space in its projects for small arts groups to stage exhibitions and performances.
The idea is among new initiatives the authority announced yesterday that are intended to inject cultural life into old urban areas.
'Our goal is to improve the quality of life of people living in dilapidated areas by bringing them closer to the arts,' the authority's chairman, Barry Cheung Chun-yuen, said.
'And from our communications with local artists, we know lack of cheap rental venues has always been their biggest problem.'
In the upcoming tender exercise for redevelopment projects in Sham Shui Po and Tai Kok Tsui, the authority will require its developer partners to reserve a certain amount of open space or areas in the mall for small arts groups to use during designated time slots and at a nominal rent.
'At best, the developer should have an arts planner,' Cheung said.
The authority has reserved HK$25 million for arts measures this financial year. Details will be announced next month.
